Virtual Field Trips
One of the great joys of education 20 years ago was the field
trip -- a joy largely lost today due to transportation and
insurance costs. Nothing was more fun than jumping in the bus
for a guided tour of the local zoo or power plant or newspaper
office. But in addition to all this fun, these adventures
allowed for real learning -- the practical application of ideas
and concepts learned in class in "real world" settings. The
"connections" made with community experts certainly helped many
students "connect" with their learning.
The World Wide Web provides an excellent environment for
building virtual field trip experiences - simulations of these
guided tours. The best virtual field trips offer introductory
lessons that prepare the student for the concepts and processes
to be confronted. Such virtual trips center on the tour
metaphor - a guided walk-through a "virtual space" with stops
at the most important points along the way for instruction,
thought, and interaction. Often the virtual field trip will
be led by a "virtual guide" - an on-line personality who
"interacts" with the student. The best virtual field trips
also allow optional navigation for "closer looks" and deeper
details for student investigation. Finally, virtual field
trips should always end with some interactive exercise - an
on-line quiz, an interactive game, or an on-line journal
experience.
Visit the virtual field trip sites below. Some of these sites
involve real "on site" field teams who are joined by virtual
participants through video and Internet connectivity.
Examples:
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